Length-Weight Relationship and Diet Composition of Pomadasys stridens (Forsskål, 1775) from İskenderun Bay (Eastern Mediterranean Sea)

A total of 513 the striped piggy, Pomadasys stridens were collected from İskenderun Bay, Eastern Mediterranean, by a fishing boat at depths of 18-20 m in July and August 2017. The overall sex ratio (female:male) was 1:1. The total length (weight) of females varied between 7.1 cm and 14.6 cm (4.78 g to 44.97 g), and of males between 7.5 cm and 15.5 cm (6.61 g to 59.15 g). The length–weight relationships were: W=0.00965·L3.164 (r=0983) for females, W=0.00876·L3.195 (r=0.986) for males and W=0.00834·L3.219 (r=0.988) for both sexes. A total of 156 P. stridens stomachs were analyzed and 22 taxa were identified. Copepods formed the main prey group for all length classes. Amphipoda, Polychaeta and Decapoda were found to be important prey groups for this species feeding in the area. A total of 9 different copepod species were identified with the highest percentage IRI values determined for Calanopia elliptica (Calanoida) and Euterpina acutifrons (Harpacticoida).